Means for transporting bananas and the like



Oct. 9, 1934. LAVEZZQRIQ 1,976,568

MEANS FOR TRANSPORTING BANANAS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 18, 1953 .27 L aux 2220210 Patented ot. 9, 1934 iitiiiE STATES MEANS F03 TRANEIPORTING BANANAS AND T E L IKE Frank Lavezzorio, Oak Park, 111.

Application January 18,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a method of and an apparatus .LQT shipping or transporting bananas and like tropical fruits.

One of the objects of the invention is the prov ion of a new and improved means for securing bunches of bananas in shipping conveyances during shipment such a manner as to eliminate bruising or injury to the fruit.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved method of transporting bananas on vehicles and the like without injury to the fruit.

A furti er object or" the invention is the provision of new and improved means for securing banana bunches in freight cars and other vehicles during transportation that is inexpensive to manufacture, easily applied and which is efficient in practice.

0t er and further objects and advantages of "ivention will appear from the following den taken in connection with the accomying drawing, in which l is an end elevation of a refrigerator car, in

3. with the end removed showing the invention po on thereon;

g. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; lg. 3 is a transverse section of supporting and positioning bars showing a modified form of supporting cable; and

l is a perspective view of a modified form of construction showing an individual bunch of ias supported within a crate.

In the transportation of bananas, especially in .rucks and freight cars, the fruit is packed together and becomes more or less bruised and injured y t e shocks incident to the sudden stopping and ting of the cars during shipment. Furtherin .8, it is the common practice to load the fruit in cars with the bunches resting on each other, and, as a result, the circulation of conditioned air, with which modern freight equipment is supplied, is obstructed and the bunches on the outer side of the load are subjected to different temperatures and moisture conditions from those on .1;) the interior of the mass.

The present invention seeks to remedy these defects by the provision of means whereby the bunches are suspended and held in position by neans engaging the stalk whereby each stalk is independently supported and in such a manner to circulate among all the bunches. Referring now to the drawing, the reference character 10 designates generally a refrigerating car having a refrigerating unit 11 therein. This unit is conveniently located within the car i fr 1933, Serial No. 652,278

as at one end thereof, as shown, and may be of the usual or any well-known construction, and may consist of refrigerating and airconditioning mechanism or means for using ice for cooling the car. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, conventional refrigerating and air conditioning mechanism isemploy'ed as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1. This mechanism conditions the air as to temperature and moisture and circulates the same within the car, as is usual in such constructions. This mechanism has the usual opening 13 in its upper portion and the opening 14 in its lower portion for permitting the circulation of air in the usual manner. Movable louvres 15 and 16 of the usual or any well-known construction, are provided for these openingsfor controlling the circulation of air therethrough. These louvres may be operated by thermostats in the usual manner. Since the details of the refrigerating and air conditioning device constitutesno part of the present inven' tion, it is not thought necessary to further illustrate or describe the same.

In the shipment of bananas and like tropical fruits, it is necessary-4n order to prevent bruises and abrasions theretoto support the same in such a manner that each bunch will be independent of the remaining bunches and will be prevented from independent movement within the shipping conveyance.

Inthe form of construction selected to illustrate one embodiment of the invention, a suitable cable or flexible member 18 is wrapped about the body of the stalk 19 of each bunch 21 and the ends of the cable are looped about or otherwise secured to the free ends of the stalklQ, as at 22 and 23,, respectively (see Fig. 2).

Suitable means are provided within the car, or other shipping conveyance, to which the ends of the cable may be attached for supporting and positioning the banana bunch 21 therein. In the form of construction shown, a plurality of supporting bars 24 are secured in the upper portion of the car and are arranged parallel and spaced sufficiently far apart to support the banana bunches out of contact with each other. These bars may be arranged either transversely or longitudinally of the car. As shown, they are arranged transversely and are supported by, and secured to. angle bars 25 and 26 rigidly connected to the sides of the car, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. Corresponding positioning bars 27 are provided at the lower portion of the car. These bars are spaced apart, similar to the bars 24, and are arranged parallel and in vertical alignment with the supporting bars 24. The bars 2'7 are secured in position in any suitable manner. As shown, they are secured to angle bars 28 and 29 which are, in turn, rigidly secured to the sides of the car adjacent to the floor thereof. The supporting and positioning bars 24 and 27 are provided with notches or openings 31 and 32 at suitable intervals along their length.

In securing the banana bunches in position, the upper end of the cable or flexible member 18 is wrapped about the supporting bar 24., the cable being located in one of the notches 31 for preventing the cable from sliding longitudinally of the bar. V 7

Suitable means are provided. for connecting the lower end of the cable 13 to the positioning bar 27. The cable may be connected directly to the bar but in order to afford a slight resiliency, a coil spring 33 may be connected to the opening 32 in the bar 27, and the upper end of the spring connected to the lower end of the cable. 18. In securing cable 18 in position, the spring 33 v is placed under tension so that the banana bunch will be prevented from undue oscillation. A- plurality of bunches may be secured to the cable-18, depending, of course, upon the length of the bunches and the distance betweenthe bars 24 and,27. The entire available space within the car-is occupied by the bunches which are supported upon cables or other flexible members be,

tween the supporting bars 2 and positioning bars 27 thoughout'the length of the car.

In Fig. 3 is disclosed a different form of supporting member. In this form of construction, admin 34. is employed and is attached to the bunch in substantially the manner shown in Fig. 2, or in any other suitable manner so'that its upper end will be connected to the upper end of the banana stalk and its lower ends like-wise connected to the lower end of the banana stalk.

In this form of construction, the ends of the chain are provided with suitable hooks 35 and 35 which are adapted to engage in aq-linkof the chain for holding thebunch of bananas in adjusted position. 'The chains are secured to the supporting bars 3"! and positioning bars 38- in any suitable manner. As clearly shown in the drawing, they are wrapped about the bars and the hooks are engaged in links of the chain for securing the parts in operative position.

When'the bananas are shipped in less-thancarload lots, and also in the delivery of same to the retailers, it is desirable that means be provided for supporting one or more bunches in crates, or the like, in order to prevent injury to the fruit. In Fig. 4 is shown a crate which is adapted to be used for this purpose. The crate 39 may be of the usual or any well-known construction. In the form shown, a plurality of angle bars ll are adapted to constitute'the corners to which the rectangular end pieces 42 and 43 are secured. Cross pieces 44 and 45 are provided at the upper and lower ends to which the cable 18 is adapted to be secured. These cross pieces may be provided with openings at their central portion through which the ends of the cable are threaded for preventing the cable from sliding longitudinally of the bars while in use. In use, one of the bars, as 44., is removed, the bunch of bananas lowered within the crate and the lower end of the cable 18 secured to the bar 45, after which the cross bar is is secured in position and the upper end oi the cable 13 attached thereto under tension so that the bunch of bananas-will be supported bythe bar as and will be held from oscillation by the bar 45. If the cable is placed sufiiciently under tension, it will support the bunch of bananas in its proper position within the crate even though the crate be turned down on its side.

When the car 10, or other shipping conveyance, is loaded with bananas in the manner outlined above, the air from the refrigerator apparatus can pass freely between or among the bunches, thereby insuring uniform circulation of ir about the fruit in transit, as well as preventing the bruising or otherwise injuring of the same.

While the supporting cable is shown as extending the full length of the stalk, it is understood that it may besecured to the ends of the stalk only, it being only necessary that it be so attached that the bunches of bananas may be suspended during shipment whether the shipment be by truck, boat, railway car or other means of transportation.

1 claim as my invention: A banana supporting means comprising a pair of supporting elements, meansfor holding said elements in spaced relation a flexible incinber for suspending a bunch of bananas between said elements, said member being looped about the stalk adjacent to each end thereof, the portion of said flexible member between the looped portions being tightly wound around the stalk for assisting in supporting said bunch of bananas from the intermediate portion of said stalk as well as from the end thereof, the ends of said member being secured to said supporting means and holding said member taut for supporting said bunch of bananas.

FRANK LAVEZZORIO. 

